TAMESIDE Council’s Markets team have added another title to their growing list of accolades. Manager Nicola Martin has been named Britain’s best market champion in the Great British High Street Awards.
The competition, which is organised by the Department for Communities and Local Government, celebrates the work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify Britain’s town centres. It is one among many initiatives championing high streets as the cornerstones of the community.
Nicola, who received her award from High Streets Minister Andrew Percy, commented: “I’m so honoured to have won, but the award’s not just down to me, it’s down to all the great staff and traders I have the honour of working with. I want to say a big thank-you to everyone who supported me.”
The awards website praises Nicola as the embodiment of today’s modern market manager. It adds: “She leads a number of thriving markets in Tameside – indoor and outdoor, farmers’ and artisan markets.
“Among her many achievements, this year Nicola has created an innovative and award-winning market at Tameside Hospital which sells fresh produce to meet the needs of patients and staff alike.
“Her social media skills and redevelopment of Ashton’s new outdoor market make her a worthy winner.”
As part of her prize, Nicola will receive training from Google’s digital taskforce for shops, bars and restaurants, and a trip to Twitter’s UK headquarters in London.As part of her prize Nicola will also receive training from Google’s digital taskforce for shops, bars and restaurants, and a trip to Twitter UK’s London office to boost her social media skills.
Cllr John Taylor, Tameside Council’s deputy leader, said: “Nicola and her team are always looking for new ways of attracting people into our town centres and they fully deserve the recognition that a Great British High Streets Award gives them.
“The fact that Tameside’s markets continue to be popular is down to the dedication and creativity of Nicola and her team. I offer them my heartiest congratulations.”
High Streets Minister Andrew Percy added: “Nicola deserves the very highest praise. She demonstrates how today’s markets manager has to think. Nicola has put her innovative ideas to good use and that makes her a worthy winner.”
Minister Andrew Percy said:“Nicola deserves the very highest praise for being a category winner in this year’s Great British High Street Awards.
“She demonstrates how today’s modern market manager has to think. Nicola has put her innovative ideas to good use as she leads a number of thriving markets in Tameside which makes her a worthy winner of this award.”